Cushioning device



latented Feb. 14, 1933 FFICE DONALD F. SPROUL, OF GEICAGO, LLNOIS,ASSIGNOR TO GARDWELL WES'IINGHOUSE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF DELAVAEECUSHION ING DEVICE Application filed October 22, 1931.

The invention relates to cushioningdevices such as are especiallyadapted for use in supporting the holsters of railway cars; its objectbeing` to simplify the construction of devices orn this character whilesecuring both simplicity oi' action and durability.

The invention is hereinafter described, and is illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, in which F ig. l is a plan View of the device; and

2 is a sectional view on the line 2 2 of Fig. l.

he device consists of a helical spring 10, adapted to be introducedbetween a car bolster and the bottom arch of the side frame of a truck,and a hollow metallic cylinder ll oi less length than the spring andfitting within its bore. rlhc element 11 is longitudinally split fromend to end, as shown at l2, and, before assembly, is out of round.

Upon assembling the parts the element 1l is suiticiently compressed topermit its end, which is preferably externally beveled, as shown at 13,to enter the bore of the spring. Longitudinal pressure being now appliedthe element ll is forced into the spring, being radially contracted andthe spring being radially expanded. Upon compression of the spring inservice friction is developed between its severa-l coils and thecylinder, by reason 01"' the tendency of each to resume its normalradial dimension.

The element ll may be stifened radially by providing it with theinternal transverse ribs le. Upon release the spring expands to itsnormal dimension of service; the cylinder may be carried upwardly tosome extent, but the subsequent action on compression remains the same,as it will be carried downwardly by the impact of the bolster until itengages the lower spring seat. The length of the cylinder is such thatit serves as a positive stop to prevent overcompression of the springand the upper and lowermost ribs ll function as abutment members forreceiving the impact when the spring is compressed beyond apredetermined amount thus preventing breaking, bending or distorting theends of the cylinder.

The device is simple and cheap of manu- Seral No. 570,394.

facture, and reliable and efficient in its action.

I claim as my invention- In a cushioning device, in combination a hollowcylindrical member having a solid metal wall provided with a slotextending lengthwise of said member, a plurality of ribs extendingcircumferentially of said member for yieldingly resisting radialdistortion of said member, the upper and lowermost ribs constitutingabutments at the ends of said member and a spiral spring concentric withsaid member and normally distorting the same radially, the length of thecylindrical member relative to the spring being such as to limit thecompression thereof.

ln testimony whereof I ax my signature.

DONALD F. SPROUL.

